Polymer Roof Meets Oceanfront — and Insurance –Demands

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – When Mike and Andrea Boone received a cancellation threat on their homeowner insurance policy, they knew it was time to take action. Their old wooden shake roof simply had to go.

“We received a notice from our insurance company that we needed to replace our roof by the end of 2011 or else they would cancel our homeowner’s policy,” reports Dr. Mike Boone, a part-time resident of the coastal town of Cayucos, Calif. “We knew the roof was older and in bad shape, so we didn’t have much to argue about. And, this spurred us to embark on a remodeling project we had been contemplating for a few years.”

According to Boone, his home “begged” for a roof that was more interesting than standard composite shingles. “We didn’t want to skimp on our roof,” says Boone. “We decided that the roof selection we made needed to complement the house, not just cover it. We justified any extra we spent on the roof because it added value to the overall home.”

The first step for the Boones was to contact Jerry Shaw, the trusted designer who created a home for the couple in 1985 and also their parent’s home ten years ago. They requested that Shaw recommend a roofing material that would add some interest to the home, along with being durable for their oceanfront living.

“Our biggest change was that we wanted to move away from the shake roof and move to a slate that we thought fit the style of the house better,” says Boone. “But, we didn’t want the hassle, weight and expense of real slate.”

Shaw embraced the roofing specification challenge and introduced the Boones to polymer slate tiles from DaVinci Roofscapes. Supported by a 50-year warranty, the durable tiles resist fire, impact, moisture and insects — all potential problems for a California coastal home.

“The Boones have a single-story ‘Carmel Cottage’ style 2,500-square-foot home that is common to the Carmel area of our state because of its focus on the arts and crafts style,” says Shaw, owner of Jerry Shaw Design in Arroyo Grande, California. “This beautiful polymer slate roofing material is appropriate to the architectural style of the home.

“The look of real slate is captured perfectly in these tiles and the longevity of the product, as well as the fire resistancy features, is tremendous. The low-maintenance appeal of the roof complemented the fiber cement siding and PVC trim used on the house and the durable aluminum-clad windows that were installed as part of the remodel. Combined, these products all provide a low-maintenance home exterior that resists the damaging effects of salt air and sea spray that are so prevalent in coastal communities.”

Selecting Nature-Inspired Colors

After selecting the polymer roofing product, the Boones next had to decide on the color of their new roof. “The wide assortment of color combinations was an important element in our decision to use the DaVinci product,” says Shaw. “The ability to combine colors to achieve a custom color for this roof was a prime factor for us selecting this product.”

With 49 colors to choose from, the Boones created a personalized DaVinci Multi-Width Slate roof that features a blended combination of Slate Black and Slate Gray with highlight colors blended in of Light Green and Dark Green.

“We wanted a roof with some interest to it, not just one tedious color,” says homeowner Boone. “Also, we needed a roof color combination that would not show sea salt spray or seagull poop. The subtleness of the colors we selected blended well together. We liked the blend of the roof colors so much that they inspired us to select exterior siding and accent colors to complement it.

“Cayucos is a walking town. We get comments on our roof on a daily basis from people strolling by. The roof is a focal point of the house and we are extremely happy with the decisions we made on all the colors and products that make up our ‘new’ older home.”

DaVinci Roofscapes has manufactured award-winning polymer slate and shake roofing since 1999. The roofing tiles are virtually maintenance free and far more cost effective than the natural product. DaVinci leads the industry in tile thickness, the tile width variety and the greatest selection of subtle earth-toned colors. Company products have a 50-year warranty and are 100 percent recyclable. DaVinci proudly makes its products in America and is a member of the National Association of Home Builders, the Cool Roof Rating Council and the U.S. Green Building Council. For additional information call 1-800-328-4624 or visit our website.